Ayao Komatsu acknowledges threat from former Haas sponsor Uralkali amid seizure note during the F1 Dutch GP, as they are doing all to resolve.
The case that has been on for some years now, saw a ruling in the Swiss arbitral tribunal where Haas were asked to pay back the sponsorship money and the race car from the 2021 F1 season to former title sponsors, Uralkali, for termination of the contract.
Even though there was a small win for Haas too but the larger context was for the American outfit to pay back the due. They were given roughly a month to oblige after June 12 ruling, but its been over two months since the ruling without any movement.
In the lead-up to F1 Dutch GP, reports circulated about police visiting the Haas motorhome in a bid seize the team’s asset present at the circuit which will be used to fulfil the court’s obligation. The plea was made by Uralkali in the Dutch court to seize the valuables.
The court did note that Haas will be unable to take its assets out of Netherlands after the grand prix until it has paid up Uralkali. The Russian company, though, welcomed the response from Haas after the American team assured of work-in-progress in repayment.
“Haas fully intends to pay to Uralkali all amounts due pursuant to the arbitration award, and there is no dispute over the amounts owed,” a statement from the team said. “Haas has been working with its lawyers to ensure payment will comply with all relevant US, EU, UK and Swiss sanctions and regulations. We will continue working with Uralkali in the coming days to resolve this matter definitively.”
To which Uralkali responded: “We are aware that Dutch bailiffs, accompanied by police, last night arrived at the Haas paddock and took an inventory of all racing equipment and other property. This is the expected consequence of Haas’ refusal to obey the ruling of arbitrage awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali. The arbitral ruling was issued June 12 with immediate effect and has been ignored by Haas.
“Haas has had over two months to implement the ruling, and, as was reported previously, Uralkali reached out to Haas’ representatives with options about how to make payment and where to send the race car, without ever receiving a substantive answer. There are not now and never have been any sanctions issues preventing Haas from fulfilling its obligations.
“Nevertheless, they have gone unfulfilled. We are delighted to hear that, following last night’s visit from Dutch authorities, Haas is finally paying attention to the arbitral ruling. Uralkali wants nothing more than to receive what it was awarded during a fair judicial process and hopes that Haas will move quickly to rectify the situation so that all sides can move on.”
Team boss Komatsu noted about the complicated process in getting funds transferred but he stated that the team is pushing to get it done as quickly as possible. “So obviously arbitration ruling was made and then we accepted it,” he said. “We’re not disputing it whatsoever. And then it’s a complicated process to transfer the funds across. And then we’re working on it and it’s been taking longer than I would like. But yeah, we are fully focused on making it across as soon as possible.”
Here’s last from Uralkali
Here’s Kevin Magnussen on future
Here’s Esteban Ocon on leadership role
Here’s Oliver Bearman on getting upto speed in F1
Here’s Nico Hulkenberg on Haas’ revival
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